VBS Was Great!
Our VBS turned out to be a great time that God blessed in many different ways. One young girl decided to trust Jesus for salvation; several kids talked about wanting to be baptized; and workers had a great time serving alongside of one another. I can’t wait to baptize these new followers of Christ!
By Jonathan Tolbert
Factor Number 2: Renewed Attitude for Servanthood
Comeback churches care more about their communities than their personal preferences. Many churches will split over preferences—without either side caring about the lost.
Comeback churches have decided that the “sin of preferences” leads to the “sin of a dying church.” This is particularly true when a community’s culture changes quickly. Our mission is to make more and better followers of Jesus Christ simultaneously. A disciple who is growing spiritually will evidence a growing desire to reach out to those who don’t know Christ.
Comeback leaders model and promote acts of service. Southside Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, was down to nine members in 1998 when Al Byrom came to be the bivocational pastor. “The church had no mission, vision or excitement for ministry. I came in, under the Lord’s leading, and empowered the people to do ministry. My leaders now are proactive and excited about ministry because it’s more enjoyable.” In just six years the church
grew to more than 700 in worship.
A significant number of Comeback leaders identified a renewed attitude of servanthood as a major factor in their comeback congregations. They led their churches to overcome the hurdle of traditional preferences and to reach beyond themselves to the community around them. From feeding the hungry to rebuilding homes and neighborhood block parties, Comeback churches used acts of service to revitalize their churches and their communities.
By Jonathan Tolbert
Two weeks ago, the following excerpts were part of an article entitled “Comeback Churches” from a leader in our denomination.
FACTOR 1: Renewed belief in Jesus Christ and the mission of the Church
Comeback leaders helped people know and experience the reality of Jesus Christ in their lives. Comeback churches made the hard decision to love the lost as much as Jesus did. Comeback churches also focus outward. We know that Jesus came to seek and save people who are lost. The need to reach them in whatever condition we find them often requires us to make changes in the way we do things. We have to find ways to love people the way they are, and that’s often messy work.
To God be the glory, VBS was a tool for PGBC to do just that!
The Baptist Women of Pleasant Grove are seeking your help in establishing a ministry to show God’s love to children in crisis situations. We want to comfort and cheer children found in emergency or family crisis situations in the Madison County Sheriff’s department and the Madison County Emergency Medical Services (ambulances).
Please bring 12- to 15-inch inexpensive new teddy bears to church during June and July. A tag will be attached to the bears giving scripture verses and the church’s name, address and phone number.
A Sunday in August will be chosen to display all the bears and a special dedication service will be held during the worship hour. After the service the bears will be individually wrapped in cellophane and delivered to the sheriff’s office and the ambulance service. A bear can be kept in the patrol cars and ambulances at all times and given to children as the need arises.
by Gail Lester
This past Saturday Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Children’s Ministries hosted the annual Easter Egg Hunt. Many of our Wednesday night group, as well as our Sunday Bunch were in attendance.
A light lunch was served while a little over 500 eggs were being hid. After lunch, a very attentive group listened and watched our friends and neighbors, David and Peggy Whitehead do their balloon magic, which is always centered around the gospel.
The big moment finally arrived— time to hunt eggs! I estimate it took only about fifteen minutes, twenty at most, for fifteen to twenty children to find 500 eggs!
Then it was back inside to receive prizes and listen as Pastor Jonathan presented the story of the Resurrection Eggs, a dozen plastic eggs with a tiny symbol of the crucifixion and resurrection inside. As a child opened an egg and displayed the tiny symbol, the group helped identify it and its place in the resurrection story. It was very rewarding to realize that this group knew that Easter is more than bunnies, eggs, and candy!
Thank you, Pastor Jonathan, Miss Amy, Children’s Committee, food preparers, and church family who contribute to the Family Ministries Fund. Thank you for all you do to make meaningful evenst like this possible.
By Gail Lester
The children and youth who are attending Spring Out! seem to enjoy each feature of the Spring Out! program to the fullest. They play hard, eat hearty, and have eagerly taken on the challenge of learning Bible scripture.
In between outdoor activities and meal time, there is a short group time. Pastor Jonathan and Miss Amy make any announcements. A few minutes is devoted to singing praise choruses under the direction of David and Rhonda Black. Memorizing Bible scripture is next led by Miss Amy. The verse chosen for this session of Spring Out! is Romans 10:9: For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
It is a very special time watching their excitement as one by one they bravely stand before the group and try to say the memory verse. A few have already said it successfully, while others are still learning. How about you? Have you learned this verse? Just a few weeks ago, Pastor Jonathan reminded us in Pleasant Times that these words from Paul are good news!
By Pastor Jonathan
Connect—
With the Lord and His people
March 11th is the start of our Spring Out! ministry. This is a great time to Connect, Grow, and Serve with your church, with visiting people, and families for Recreation at 5:15; Supper at 6:00 pm; and Bible Study for all ages at 7 pm.
Vision Team Meeting: Please mark your calendar for March 22nd and make the change to 4:00 pm so we can accommodate Dr. Lex Bowen’s schedule.
Grow—
Through the Word and Prayer
“And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.” This quote taken from Revelation 13: 16–17 has been a mystery throughout the last 2,000 years to followers of Christ. It will remain a mystery until it actually happens.
Rev. Glenn Guest, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, will be sharing with us Sunday evening on March 15th the fruit of his study on this important biblical topic as well as his research on the current technologies and developing technology of a worldwide cashless system.
Serve—
With gifts, talents, time & treasure
We will be serving refreshments for International Friends on March 18th. See Pastor Jonathan or Ramona Booth to join the team. The group will leave at 8:30 am from the church. It is a blessing to see a room full of about 80 visitors from all over the world and know that we are helping to reach people from places like China and Mexico from Athens, GA.
Go—
Sharing the Gospel
Join us this Sunday evening for 1) Fellowship and spaghetti supper at 5:00 pm 2) An evening of worship through mission’s learning at 6:00 pm and 3) A great opportunity to support North American missions by giving generously to those who have already gone to “Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” They have gone so we must pray, give, and learn how to go like our missionaries. Will you support this important work by connecting with us tonight at 5:00 pm?
By Pastor Jonathan
Connect
Sunday School is an awesome way to connect better with the Lord and His people! Every Sunday morning at PGBC we have a group gathering at 9:45 am, and then each class meets in their particular rooms for about 45–50 minutes. Each adult class is open to any new members.
Spring Out begins Wednesday March 11th at 5:15 pm. Is there anyone you could help connect with us through: outside recreation for kids from 5:15–6:00; supper for everyone from 6:00–6:45; and Bible Study groups for kids and adult at 7:00 pm?
Grow
Are you prepared for the “Mark of the Beast” that is mentioned in the book of Revelation? Taking it will mean rebellion to God’s plan. Join us at 6:00 pm on March 15 as Pastor Glenn Guest shares his heart and research on how the technology for a real “Mark” could be close at hand. Come with an open heart and bring any questions you may have.
FM radio stations to help you Grow while on the road or at home: Calvary Satellite 88.1, WMSL 88.9, Toccoa Falls 90.9, The Fish 104.7.
Serve
Are you ready to take the next step in your service to Christ at PGBC? God calls us to give our gifts, talents, abilities, personality, time, and treasures to Him to be utilized for serving God’s kingdom. The best place to start is here at your local church. You can get started by taking the “Spiritual Gifts Inventory” and then meeting with Pastor Jonathan. Together we will find a place of service for you to build up this body and to help you to grow even deeper as a “fully committed follower of Jesus Christ.”
Go
March 1st is our Spaghetti Supper for North American Missions. Supper begins at 5:00 pm followed by a missions program by our Baptist Women. Come and learn with us how we can be a part of helping others to Go and fulfill the Great Commission in our own continent!
By Pastor Jonathan
The Bible states: “Without a vision the people perish.” For that reason, we will be having a month of “Vision Celebration” during the morning services of February.
Why should you attend? I believe that church membership matters! I want you to see the value of church membership as well as a fresh vision for PGBC’s future health and growth. You matter to us. This is a great time to reconnect with us if you have been AWOE (absent without excuse).
This is also a great time to renew hope if you are faithfully attending. Is membership a name on a roll? Or is it something more? Come and see! Each week will be something new to experience and to be challenged in. As always, February will be a great opportunity to be a part of a biblical, caring community… all at your church: Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
By Pastor Jonathan
Like many churches in America PGBC has experienced decline, but we have not lost hope. We believe that God has inspired a new vision for us. We are excited about what God can and will do in our midst as we unite and answer His call.
This February we will focus in on that call. We will be hosting our first annual Vision Celebration. This is a very important time for us as a community of believers. Each week we will take a hard look at where we are and where God is calling us. There will be a few special events to mark our time together as a celebration.
I challenge you to commit to come to church each Sunday in February. If you are in contact with any of our members who have not been attending, please invite them to join us in February. They will be receiving a letter in the mail, but your personal invitation will be even better! I wonder what blessings are in store for those believers who commit themselves to influencing and being influenced by their church family this year.
By God’s power, I am praying we will be challenged, inspired, equipped, and given a fresh vision to be committed to as a body of believers.
Thank you for your service, participation, love for the saints, heart for the lost, and giving towards the ministry God has given us at this time in history.